Mustangs coach wants team to play at high level

Perryville baseball coach Jason Wilson looks forward to this season after his Mustangs failed to make it to the postseason a year ago. Perryville is coming off a 3-17 season but returns several key starters. “We want to compete in our conference and go into the district tournament with a higher seed and get into the regional tournament,” Wilson said. “We want to make it to the state tournament. That is what we’re trying to do.” A year ago, the Mustangs lost five games by one or two runs. The Mustangs return five starters this season. They are seniors Chandler Roland and Brock Johnson; juniors Mason Thessing and Eddie Jeffs; and sophomore Will Crowder. “I think we can be pretty good,” Wilson said. “We’re a lot more mature. The past three years, we’ve been playing with young kids. Most of my seniors have started since ninth grade.” Wilson said his team’s strength is pitching. His top pitchers are Thessing, Jeffs and junior Jasper White.

“I’ve also got a really good catcher in senior Brock Johnson,” Wilson said. Wilson said Johnson and Jeffs are the best hitters for average. Johnson, Jeffs and White are the best power hitters. The best fields are Johnson, Jeffs and Thessing. Wilson said Roland, Jeffs, White and Jonathan Lang are the fastest players on the team. Wilson said games with Bigelow, Atkins and Lamar are ones to watch this season. “We want to be disciplined, work hard and prepare to compete at the highest level to reach and compete in the state tournament,” Wilson said.